I bought this double SACD mainly because I wanted to know if and how the new remastering of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto turned out, since the recording—also by EBS—had already been remastered for SHM-SACD back in 2012. So here is a direct listening comparison between the 2012 and 2025 remasters (both EBS): I immediately notice that the overall volume is slightly higher on the 2025 remaster. In addition, the soundstage appears to have been significantly widened. Unfortunately, this expansion does not have a positive effect on my listening experience, because at the same time I also notice that the sound character is significantly (!) duller, more diffuse, and somehow “muddier,” which is likely due in part to the fact that the remastering process involved extensive manipulation of the source material and the use of room reverb effects to create more spatiality and depth. In my opinion, this backfired, because compared to the 2012 version, the new 2025 version sounds more diffuse and fuzzy, and I feel that the instruments are further away despite the wider soundstage. For the sake of completeness, however, I must add that the new remastering has completely removed a whole range of background noises (clicks, rustling sheet music, etc.) that were present in the original recording. As I said: the original material was significantly altered.

I’m really disappointed here, because I definitely prefer the old 2012 remaster—its fundamental character is more direct, clearer, and more powerful. Although the new remaster clearly aimed for a warmer sound (the strings sound duller/more muted), the low frequencies are a bit lacking. In comparison, the 2012 remaster has more pronounced, punchy bass. - I want to make it clear that this is my subjective impression and reflects my personal taste. I can well imagine that other listeners see things quite differently and prefer the new remaster.

A brief concluding remark on the two remasters: although both remasters were carried out at EBS, there is one—potentially decisive—difference: in 2012, the remastering was done directly in the DSD domain; extensive post-processing was practically impossible for technical reasons. As is well known, DSD files are extremely difficult to edit and can only be edited to a limited extent. In this respect, the 2012 remastering was more or less a direct DSD copy of the 2-track master tape. Not least the major technical limitations in editing DSD files likely prompted EBS to carry out the digital transfer from the master tape based on PCM around 2016.

Contrapunctus, thank you for that review. This is disappointing, to say the least! I'll stick with the original masters. (Removing page rustlings is really bizarre and, frankly, shows that their intent was to scrub this thing with a brillo pad.)